wished
to see him, Stafford had been instantly raised from the depths of
gloomy despondency, to dizzy heights of hope and joy. A mere sound
wave vibrating along a copper wire had made him the happiest and most
amazed man in New York.

He had come home particularly out of sorts that evening and instead of
dining at his club as usual, had told Oku to prepare a meal. Since
Virginia's departure he had seldom had the courage to dine at home.
The large dining room with the big table set for himself alone only
served to remind him the more keenly of his loss. Especially empty and
cheerless they looked that day and his mind was obsessed by thoughts
of the absent one when suddenly the loud ringing of the telephone bell
had aroused his reveries. He picked up the receiver thinking it was
Hadley calling him or possibly someone in his office, when to his
amazement he heard the voice of Jimmie Gillie.

A thrill ran through him as he listened. At last she had sent for him.
His life was not to be irretrievably blasted, after all. Virginia was
ready to forgive him and to come home again. He could scarcely believe
his ears and in his joy he was ready to embrace the polished surface
of the telephone. A reconciliation was possible without the sacrifice
of his self-respect. He did not stop to analyze her motives or to
question the authenticity of the summons. It was enough that her
sister's husband said she wanted to see him. Then, suddenly, an idea
occurred to him, which sent the blood from his face. He felt hot and
cold in turns. Suppose she were ill, dying and they had sent for him
because she was on her death-bed. He would not delay a moment.

Touching a few electric bells, he set Oku and other servants running
with hurry orders that galvanized new life into the sleepy household,
and half an hour later he was in his motor car, speeding in the
direction of Harlem.

At the first sound of the bell, instinct had told Fanny who it was.
She had delayed answering in order not to unduly alarm Virginia, and
for a few moments she was at a loss what to do. Jimmie had hastily but
discreetly disappeared, preferring to let his wife now play her role
in the little comedy intended to bring Robert and Virginia together,
but it was by no means an easy part to play and it was only when she
knew that the millionaire was standing outside waiting for admittance
that she quite realized how difficult was her task. There was no
telling how the plan would